Milton
Milton is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Mill town or settlement near a mill.
Origin and history
Milton originated as an Old English place name and surname meaning 'settlement with a mill'. It gained literary prestige in honor of the 17th-century poet John Milton, author of 'Paradise Lost'. Though highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the U.S., its usage has declined significantly in modern times.
Popularity in the United States
117,936 babies in the United States have been named Milton since 1880. It ranks #279 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1180.
States where it is most popular
- NY (11.7 %)
- TX (8 %)
- CA (4.8 %)
- NC (4.8 %)
- PA (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,479 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,745 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,695 |
| 1910-1920 | 17,522 |
| 1920-1930 | 24,198 |
| 1930-1940 | 15,729 |
| 1940-1950 | 14,879 |
| 1950-1960 | 14,578 |
| 1960-1970 | 9,004 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,695 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,743 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,833 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,390 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,632 |
| 2020-2029 | 814 |
Famous people named Milton
- Milton Berle: Comedian, Actor
- Milton Friedman: Economist, Author
- Milton Hershey: Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
Nicknames
Milt
Fun facts
- Milton was consistently ranked among the top 100 most popular boys' names in the United States from the late 1800s through the 1920s.
- The adoption of Milton as a given name was heavily influenced by the enduring fame of English poet John Milton.